The case of 10 gold bars at Imam Khomeini airport: the owner claims the consignment was swapped, and a new case is opened

Tasnim News Agency, in a report carried by Eghtesad Online on Tuesday, 28 July 2026 (6 Mordad 1405), reviewed documents from a customs case concerning gold bars brought in through the passenger channel at Imam Khomeini International Airport. According to those documents, on 22 November 2023 (1 Azar 1402) a consignment described as "yellow metal" arrived at the airport from Dubai through the passenger channel, at a time when a cabinet decision allowing exporters to discharge their foreign currency obligations by importing standard gold bullion was in force.

The report says closed circuit camera footage shows a backpack containing 10 bars being handed to another person after passing through the passenger x-ray. Iran Customs drew up a seizure record on 23 November 2023 and the goods were held in trust at the airport's public warehouses. The documents show that no formal determination of the goods' nature had been made by 10 June 2024 (20 Khordad 1403), yet on that date an abandoned goods declaration was filed describing the item as "gold bullion". A smuggling case was heard by the State Discretionary Punishment Organisation and the defendant was acquitted at first instance.

According to the documents, when the owner came to collect the consignment he claimed the goods in the warehouse were not the original 10 bars. A report drawn up in the presence of an expert from the gold and jewellery union stated that the goods in the warehouse were not gold bullion, and a new case has been opened into the fate of the original consignment. Tasnim said it is continuing to seek explanations from the relevant authorities.